Thomism

Thomism was a medieval philosophical movement that was founded by Thomas Aquinas, who maintained the logical integrity of philosophy (Aristotle) and made it compatible with (and autonomous) from religion. The belief flourished from the 13th century to the present. It was a synthesis of Aristotelianism and Christianity. Thomism started with liberal arts, then science, then moral philosophy, and then metaphysics. Primary matter was said to have comprised all human matter, while the substantial form formed the matter. Each body is individuated solely by matter. Aquinas ruled out all forms of individuation apart from matter (a pure Aristotelian thought), but said that spiritual matter did not exist (angels are not true individuals). The unique substantial part of man is his rational soul. The rational soul has a passive intellect, an active intellect, and a will, and intellect is unique for each man (contrary to Aristotle’s views). Man has the right to cooperate with other men in the common good. Man’s pursuit of happiness is guided by natural law (God’s eternal law). Posited law is posited by an authority, either by God or a human. The common good must come before personal happiness. God is the causal agent of creation and the end for created things. Thomism was popular in the Catholic Church, and Neo-Thomism emerged in the 19th century in response to the rise of secularism.